DATE=9/24/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-239222
TITLE=U-S/NORTH KOREA (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=BILL RODGERS
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: U-S OFFICIALS SAY THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S POLICY
TOWARD NORTH KOREA WILL CONTINUE UNCHANGED -- DESPITE STRONG
CRICITISM FROM SOME KEY U-S LAWMAKERS THAT THE POLICY HAS FAILED.
THE ISSUE WAS RAISED AT A HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES COMMITTEE
HEARING THURSDAY -- AS WE HEAR FROM V-O-A'S BILL RODGERS.
TEXT: BEFORE THE HEARING BEGAN, HOUSE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN BENJAMIN GILMAN CORDIALLY SHOOK HANDS WITH THE
ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS SCHEDULED TO TESTIFY -- AND THEN
PROCEEDED TO SHARPLY CRITICIZE U-S POLICY TOWARD NORTH KOREA:
///GILMAN ACT///
OUR POLICIES HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL -- UNDER THE
CURRENT ADMINISTRATION POLICY, WE ARE PAYING FOR BAD
BEHAVIOR BY REWARDING NORTH KOREAN BRINKMANSHIP (PLAYING
GAME) WITH BENEFITS....OUR CURRENT POLICY OF WEAKNESS
MAY LEAD THE NORTH KOREANS TO MISCALCULATE OUR RESOLVE.
///END ACT///
FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS, THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION -- ALONG WITH
JAPAN AND SOUTH KOREA -- HAS BEEN PURSUING A POLICY OF ENGAGEMENT
WITH COMMUNIST NORTH KOREA TO REDUCE TENSIONS AND TO KEEP ITS
NUCLEAR ACITVITIES IN CHECK.
//OPT// IN 1994, THE UNITED STATES AGREED TO PROVIDE NORTH KOREA
WITH FUEL OIL AND NUCLEAR POWER REACTORS IN EXCHANGE FOR
PYONGYANG'S COMMITTMENT NOT TO PRODUCE NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND TO
DISMANTLE ITS REACTORS THAT WERE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING
WEAPONS-GRADE MATERIAL. //END OPT//
BUT RECENT NORTH KOREAN ACTIONS, INCLUDING THE LAUNCH OF A
THREE-STAGE ROCKET LATE LAST MONTH, HAVE GENERATED CONCERNS THAT
PYONGYANG IS NOT LIVING UP TO THE ACCORD.
HOWEVER, THE CHIEF U-S NEGOTIATOR WITH NORTH KOREA, CHARLES
KARTMAN, ASSURED THE HOUSE PANEL THURSDAY THE CURRENT POLICY
REMAINS THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION.
///KARTMAN ACT///
THIS IS A POLICY THAT IS NOT BASED ON TRUST OR
CONFIDENCE IN THE NORTH KOREAN REGIME. ON THE CONTRARY,
IT REFLECTS A SOBER JUDGEMENT OF HOW BEST TO CONTAIN THE
THREAT OF NORTH KOREA'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM AND OTHER
DESTABILIZING ACTIVITIES SUCH AS MISSILE DEVELOPMENT.
///END ACT///
AT THE SAME TIME, THE U-S DIPLOMAT WARNED THAT WASHINGTON IS, AS
HE PUT IT, DEEPLY SUSPICIOUS OF WHAT MAY BE A NORTH KOREAN EFFORT
TO BUILD AN UNDERGROUND NUCLEAR COMPLEX. HE SAID THE UNITED
STATES WILL DEMAND HAVING ACCESS TO THE SITE WHEN U-S AND NORTH
KOREAN NEGOTIATORS MEET AGAIN FOR TALKS.
//OPT// NO DATE FOR THOSE DISCUSSIONS HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED, BUT MR.
KARTMAN TOLD REPORTERS HE EXPECTS THEY WILL BE HELD SOON. //END
OPT//
REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE DID
NOT APPEAR RE-ASSURED BY THE U-S DIPLOMAT'S COMMENTS -- AND THEY
CONTINUED TO EXPRESS CONCERN OVER NORTH KOREA'S INTENTIONS.
(SIGNED)
NEB/WFR/PT/WFR
24-Sep-98 6:56 PM EDT (2256 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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